Archive for July, 2012

A few months ago I wrote that there is no clear favorite Major League baseball team in Hawaii … no “Hawaii’s Team.”

The Los Angeles Dodgers have always, however, been among the most popular in the islands — and when they were going really good, they were arguably the favorite.

The San Francisco Giants have a large fan base here, and they won the World Series in 2010.

But as of today, their rivals, the Dodgers, would likely win a popularity poll in Hawaii.

Picking up Hawaii products Brandon League and Shane Victorino means many more island eyes will be on the Dodgers the next couple of months as resurgent LA tries to win the National League West. And the two 2011 all-stars could be big factors in the pennant race and postseason.

I enjoyed the opening ceremonies Friday night, and have watched gymnastics, women’s beach volleyball, weightlifting and men’s indoor volleyball so far. Rowing doesn’t grab me, so when it comes on I check out to something else.

Looking forward to track and field as always, although Castle High product Bryan Clay being out of the decathlon dampens it a bit for me. Also will be interested to see if Roosevelt grad Clarissa Chun, who was fifth in 2008, can medal in wrestling.

As I write in Monday’s column, Clay Stanley was impressive in volleyball’s sweep of Serbia. And the start of the Olympics brings a welcome break from the negative stories that have infested sports locally and nationally lately.

Have you and will you be watching much of the Olympics? And which sports?

It’s never a good time to get arrested, but some are worse than others.

A source told me Thursday that former Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan was set to be hired as a sports reporter at a local TV station on Wednesday, just a few hours before he was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and promotion of a dangerous drug.

The position was created specifically for Brennan, who was recently cut by the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders. But that opportunity for the 28-year-old UH communications graduate to start a new chapter in his life is gone now due to the arrest, the source said.